Sunday, May 24th. We went to church early, and the day passed off quietly.
Monday, May 25th. We were aroused at 3 A.M. by a message coming for Charlie to go over to Sir Henry. He dressed and went over immediately. I waited till gun-fire, and then went into the garden to arrange my flowers, little thinking what was coming. Charlie came back about half-past 5, when, to my astonishment, he told me it was Sir Henry's express orders that all ladies should leave Cantonments and go down to the Residency in the city; so I suspected he had heard bad news.[2] I commenced immediately collecting what I thought I should require, and what I considered valuable, not knowing how long I should be from home. The heat was intense, and I had to hurry my packing, for Charlie had had an offer of a seat in the H——'s carriage for me, as he could not take me down himself, being Captain of the week; and they were to call for me at half-past 7. He made me take some coffee, and packed up what he could of eatables and drinkables, not knowing how we should fare at the Residency. At the appointed time the H——'s and Mrs. B—— called for me, and we drove to the city, passing innumerable coolies with beds and baggage of all descriptions, carriages and buggies filled with ladies and children, all off to the city—such a scene—and when we drove up to the Residency everything was looking so warlike, guns pointed in all directions, and barricades and European troops; everywhere nothing but bustle and confusion. We then heard there was hardly a room to be had—ladies had been arriving ever since gun-fire—so Mr. H—— went over to see if Dr. F—— could take us in. He came back saying he could, and away we went, thankful to get into such good quarters. Two ladies were there already, and five came after, with three children, so that every room was full. This house, as well as Mr. G——'s and Mr. O——'s (both also full) are within the Residency grounds, and are barricaded all round; still, in case of disturbance, we have orders to assemble at the Residency. Of course, there are all kinds of reports and alarms going about consequent on our flight. The heat was intense; I never experienced anything like it: at night it is fearful, I cannot sleep for it. Our beds are three under one punkah. I and Mrs. A—— are with Mrs. F—— in her room. In the other rooms they are as crowded, but it is nothing to the Residency. Our party here is a very agreeable one. We meet at chota hazree, and, after dressing, breakfast at 10. We then have working, reading and music—there are some very good performers amongst our party—lunch at 2, dine at half-past 7, and then the Padre reads a chapter and prayers, and we retire.
Tuesday, May 26th. The day passed quietly. Several husbands and fathers visited their beloveds, but mine could not leave his station duty. In the evening I went to the Residency to see Mrs. B——, whose baby was dying. I never witnessed such a scene—a perfect barrack—every room was filled with six or eight ladies; beds all round, and perhaps a dining-table laid for dinner in the centre—servants thick in all the verandahs—numbers of the 32nd soldiers and their officers; and underneath all, the women and children of the 32nd barracks—such a hubbub and commotion! It is an upper storeyed house, but the upper storey is not nearly so large as the under one, and yet in that, including servants and children, there are ninety-six people living! Poor Mrs. B—— was in great distress; she and another lady had a small room to themselves, with her five children. I was quite thankful I was not there: it was a complete rabbit warren. On my return I found Dr. F—— and Mr. H—— had been to Cantonments, and heard that the 13th Sepoys had taken up four city men, one of whom attempted to stab Mr. C——, the Adjutant.
Wednesday, May 27th. The day passed quietly. I went over to the Residency to see Mrs. P—— and Mrs. A—— in the evening, and found them in a small room with another lady. Mrs. P——'s child had bad fever—it was such a scene—they were having a punkah put up, and their beds were so thick you could hardly move, and scarcely a breath of air to be had. Such a hubbub all round—some parties were grouped in a circle in the verandah, some in the compound—but it is impossible to describe the scene; I can compare it to nothing but a rabbit warren.
Thursday, May 28th. The day passed as usual. In the evening two of us drove with Dr. and Mrs. F—— to the Martinière College, he taking with him a very small pistol, and concealed from view, on the coach-box, a double-barrelled gun. The part of the city we drove through seemed perfectly quiet.
Friday, May 29th. About 5 A.M. I drove with Miss H—— to Cantonments, and had the inexpressible delight of seeing Charlie again, and the poor doggies I thought would have eaten me up. I had chota hazree with Charlie, and we sat chatting till 7, when the H——'s carriage came for me again. The day passed quietly. Some of the party drove out with Dr. and Mrs. F——, in the evening, but I did not. Dr. F——'s elephant is brought every evening to the verandah, where we are generally all assembled, to have his dinner. He has large cakes made of 32lbs. of ottah (coarse flour). This evening he performed various feats: taking the Mahout upon his back by his trunk, then putting out his forepaw for the Mahout to climb up that way; roaring, when he was told to speak, and then salaaming and taking his departure.
Saturday, May 30th. I went down to Cantonments again with Miss H——, and Col. H—— told us if we liked to remain till 11, he would take us back to the city himself. I was glad to accede to it, but it was against orders, for we are only allowed to go down to Cantonments morning and evening, and stay two hours. I enjoyed my time with Charlie; had a delightful bath, and appreciated the luxury of my own bathing and dressing rooms; then breakfasted with Charlie, who did not like my remaining in Cantonments so long against orders. The poor doggies were wild—"Prince," a little Scotch terrier, seemed to think himself privileged to be saucy as his mistress had come to see him, and got away under a sofa, and growled, and bid defiance to the servant who came to take him away to be washed, so that Charlie had to come to the rescue. However, the whole time Charlie was in a fidget about my remaining against orders. At 11 the carriage came. I little thought it was my last sight of the pretty garden and the home I had spent so many happy hours in, and of my poor little doggies. After taking up Col. H—— and his daughter, who should we meet but Sir H. Lawrence, returning from the city; and he stared me full in the face. I was in terror, for I feared Charlie would get a wigging for letting me remain so long in Cantonments, and he is always so particular not to disobey orders. The day passed quietly. The elephant came to the verandah to be fed, and we sat down to dinner, laughing and talking—quite a merry party—when, about 9, the servants came running in, saying there was a great deal of firing going on in the direction of Cantonments. We all started up. Dr. F—— and Mr. H—— rushed off to discover the truth of it, and sure enough there was artillery and musketry plainly to be heard, and from the top of the house tremendous fires could be seen blazing up. Dr. F—— at first ordered us to get our bonnets and go to the Residency; then he said we had better go down to the underground part of the house: and he had all the doors locked, and they armed themselves. It was an awful time for us who had our husbands in Cantonments, for there was not a doubt but that the Native troops had risen, and were burning and murdering. Dr. F—— then told us to get together a little bundle of linen, and what we might require in case we were ordered off to the Muchee Bawun—we might be kept there some time—but it must be only a small bundle, that we could carry in our hands. We did so, and then all collected in the dining-room, awaiting our orders, Mrs. F——'s baby asleep in the midst of us; the suspense was fearful. About 2, came down Mr. J——, the commissariat officer, with a message from Sir Henry, that the Native troops had risen, but that we had held our own, and the rebels had fled. Dr. F—— then said we had better all go and lie down in our clothes, with our bundles ready, and he would call us if there were any further alarm. We went; but I could only walk up and down the room, thinking of Charlie, and whether he had been wounded. Mrs. F—— gave me a cup of tea, and while I was drinking it they came running in to tell me Charlie was all right. He had ridden up with a despatch from Sir Henry for Mr. G——, escorted by twenty Irregular Cavalry men, and a few minutes after he made his appearance. I never shall forget the moment. I could only thank God he was safe. His trowsers, up to the knees, were covered with blood, but it was from his horse having been shot in the nose. He himself had had a most narrow escape; the Brigadier was shot about two yards from him. Of course all the ladies in the house crowded round him, and his first words were, "All belonging to the ladies in this house are safe." He then mentioned the Brigadier's death, and Mr. G——'s, of the 71st N.I.; also, that Mr. C—— had been wounded in the leg. They had just brought him down to the Residency, in Sir Henry's carriage. I could only shudder to think what an escape my own dear husband had had. He said they were sitting at mess when the alarm was given, and that he rushed off to the Brigadier, being his orderly officer that week. The Brigade-Major joined them, and they went into the Lines, when the Sepoy of the 13th, who had been rewarded a few days previously, and who was carrying the Brigadier's gun, called out, "Save yourself, Sahib; they are going to fire!" A volley was fired, but the Brigadier was not hit then. Charlie was on foot; he had tried to mount a horse of Capt. W——'s, but it had thrown him—most fortunately for him as it turned out afterwards—then went on again and received another volley, and then a third, and Charlie says it was most marvellous they were not hit. They had then reached the European camp, when the Brigadier would go a little further, although the soldiers warned him not to. A shot immediately struck him in the breast, and he fell from his horse like a stone—quite dead. Charlie ordered some European soldiers to carry him into camp, which they did; and he said it was only from not being mounted himself that he was not hit—they fired too high. He and Mr. B—— rushed off, and Charlie's groom met him in the bazaar with his horse. He lost Mr. B—— in the bazaar, but dared not wait; they were all in arms around him. It was the 71st N.I. that commenced the mutiny—they rushed off and got their arms, and the bad ones of the other regiments joined them. However, the great guns settled them, and they made off into the district. Sir Henry then asked who would carry down a despatch to the city, and Charlie offered, for he thought of me, so he galloped off with his twenty Sowars,[3] leaving the bungalows burning on all sides of him. He fancied not one would escape. Ours for that night did, owing to Charlie's orderly telling the party of the 48th, who had come to burn it, that there was a Havildar's party inside, who would fire instantly; so they passed on to the next. This man got 100 rupees afterwards from Sir Henry for this. Charlie did not go back to Cantonments that night, as his horse was quite done up, and he had had leave to do as he liked. He went back to Mr. G——, and we all went to bed. Never shall I forget this awful night, nor how much I have to thank God for having preserved my dear one.
Sunday, May 31st. Charlie came over to breakfast with us; we all then went into Dr. F——'s room, and Mr. H—— read prayers; Charlie then went to see if Sir Henry had arrived, and I wrote my overland letters and was just closing them, when an order came for all ladies to go over to the Residency, as they expected a rise in the city; we collected our bundles, and, under a burning sun, walked over to the Residency, where we were told not to congregate too many in one part, as the building was not safe; every room in the upper storey was crammed, we could hardly get space to put down our bundles: at last Miss N—— offered me a corner in one room, but the perfect Babel there was with the number of children and the fearful heat, with no punkahs going, was enough to drive one wild. We sat down in this miserable state all day; there was luncheon going on when we arrived, and we were invited to partake, but Mrs. F—— kindly sent over for one from her own house for us. I saw my husband every now and then, but he was acting under Major A——. In the evening the two Padres tried to have prayers, but we could scarcely hear them from the Babel of tongues all round and the screams of so many children; it was perfect misery. I was dying with thirst, and had nothing of my own to quench it; at last a lady took pity on me, and ordered her servant to make me a cup of tea—a perfect luxury. We heard firing going on all the evening; it turned out to be an attack on the Dowlut Khana, but the rebels were repulsed, several shot, and others taken prisoners, who were afterwards hanged. Martial law is proclaimed now in Oude, so they are hanging several night and morning at the Muchee Bawun. About 7, Sir Henry came down from Cantonments with a large escort, and was received with great cheering; four more guns came down with him; every preparation was made, expecting an attack that night; every man was at his gun, and the slow matches lighted in readiness. There was no chance of sleeping down in this hot Babel, so I and several other ladies took our bedding up on the roof and slept there; it was a lovely moonlight night, and never shall I forget the scene. The panorama of Lucknow, from the top of the Residency, is splendid; and down immediately below us, in the compound, we could see the great guns and all the military preparations; all, every instant, expecting an attack, and firing going on in the distance. However, I was so worn out with the previous night that I lay down and was asleep in a second; of course I did not undress, nor had I done so the night before. I started frequently, fancying I heard the tramp of the mob coming; we had the two Padres up with us and they determined to watch by turns. Mr. P—— began; he had a double-barreled gun, pistol and sword, and walked round and round for two hours, and then awoke Mr. H——, but we could not help laughing, for Mr. H—— was so sleepy he told him he did not think there was any necessity for watching up there. I shall never forget the night; the moon and stars were so brilliant overhead, looking so peaceful in contrast to the scene below. I fixed up an umbrella over my head to keep off the ill effects of the moon; every hour the sentinels were calling to one another and answering, "All's well!" It was certainly more a scene from romance than real life. Sir Henry slept out, like the others, between two guns.